Tailor-made Queensland: Introduction

Drenched in colour, tropical Queensland daunted the early settlers whose plants and cattle preferred the gentler climate further south. Queensland stretches from the temperate south to the tropics and is unimaginably blessed with vast stretches of beaches, sheltered by the Great Barrier Reef in the north and rolling with surf in the south.

On either side of this glorious coast are two great wonders: the kaleidoscopic underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef and the ancient rainforests that have carpeted this land since time immemorial. Around the major cities of Brisbane and Cairns, this is a region where you still appreciate Australia’s great scale and beauty, but also the challenges faced by the early settlers of carving a new life on a timeless land, as small towns are dotted in a vast landscape where everything - the plants, the animals, brightly-coloured birds, even the people - are just that little bit quirky and unexpected.

Add in the remote pleasures of the sparsely inhabited Whitsunday Islands and the immense pastures of inland Outback cattle stations and it’s clear that Queensland can reward months of exploration.

Selected Highlights

Our specialists have travelled the length and breadth of the country to research the best places to stay and things to do. Here they list a few of their favourite “unmissables”. Click here for more highlights

Try 4WD driving in the sand of Fraser Island

World Heritage-listed Fraser Island is the largest sand island on Earth and is home to a set of untouched eco-systems, including lush rainforests,...  [more]

Spend time in Brisbane

The largest city in Queensland, Brisbane boasts over 300 days of sunshine a year and fuses the vibrant energy of a big city with the laid-back...  [more]

Visit the lush Atherton Tablelands

The Atherton Tablelands area is a region of lush forests, crystal clear lakes, thundering waterfalls, national parks and beautiful scenery. Take in...  [more]